On April 30, the City of Hamilton proposed adding the Sign By-Law (10-197) to the Administrative Penalty System By-Law (17-225). This effectively means that real estate signs (open house, for sale lawn signs) that do not adhere to the current City of Hamilton Sign By-Law will receive fines of approximately $50-$100 per infraction.
This change will be going before Hamilton City Council on Wednesday, May 8 where we anticipate it will be approved.
Below are some of the proposed fines that will have a direct impact on REALTORS® conducting business in Hamilton:
Open House Directional Sign – Each has a related fine of $100
- Permit/display open house directional sign before 10 a.m. of the day of the open house
- Permit/display open house directional sign after 6 p.m. of the day of the open house
- Permit/display open house directional sign with more than 0.5m² sign area
- Permit/display open house directional sign on a traffic island
- Permit/display open house directional sign on median
- Permit/display open house directional sign attached to light standard
- Permit/display open house directional sign attached to a utility pole
- Permit/display open house directional sign less than 0.3m from the sidewalk
Real Property Sale/Lease/Rent Sign – Each has a related fine of $100
- Permit/display real property sale/lease/rent sign for more than 14 days after a firm sale is reported to the local realtors
- Permit/display real property sale/lease/rent sign for one dwelling more than 0.6m² sign area
- Permit/display real property sale/lease/rent sign for other than one dwelling more than 4.0m² sign area
- Permit/display real property sale/lease/rent sign with illumination
- Permit/display real property sale/lease/rent sign on property not being sold/leased/rented
Penalties and Enforcement – Each has a related fine of $500
- Person contravened a provision of the Sign By-Law
- Person failed to comply with an order made under Sign By-Law
Please see below for links to previous blog posts regarding Sign By-Laws:
- March 12, 2019 – Notice to RAHB Members Conducting Business in Oakville
- January 26, 2018 – City of Hamilton Sign By-Laws
- December 12, 2018 – Direction and Open House Signs
- October 1, 2018 – Notice from City of Hamilton – Sign Bylaw
Please click the below button for the complete proposed Sign By-Law infraction fines:
Read Full Proposed Sign By-Law Fines
See pages 46 and 47 to see the direct impact on REALTORS® conducting business in Hamilton.
An e-mail will be sent out to RAHB members about the finalized information regarding the Sign By-Law once it is approved at Council.